JPWO2015163151A1 - Tactile presentation device - Google Patents

Abstract

The tactile sense presentation device (101) includes an elastic film (20), a diaphragm (40), and a touch panel (50). The flat touch panel (50) is provided with a plurality of touch sensors (80) at positions corresponding to the key arrangement. The diaphragm (40) has a first region that overlaps the plurality of touch sensors (80) and a second region that does not overlap the plurality of touch sensors (80) when the diaphragm (40) is viewed from the front. . A plurality of openings (85) are provided in the first region of the diaphragm (40). In this configuration, when the user performs a touch operation, the touch sensor (80) is pressed into the opening (85), and the vibration of the diaphragm (40) due to expansion and contraction of the stretchable film (20) The user can obtain a sufficient click feeling.

Description

  The present invention relates to a haptic presentation device that provides haptic feedback by transmitting vibrations to a user.

  In recent years, with the demand for thinning electronic devices such as notebook personal computers, thinning is also required for a plurality of key switches provided in a keyboard or the like. However, with a plurality of thin key switches, it is difficult to secure keystrokes, and there is a problem that the user cannot obtain a click feeling.

  In order to solve this problem, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes a key switch structure in which an elastic pressing portion is provided on the bottom surface of a key. Patent Document 2 proposes a key switch structure in which a plurality of keys formed in a convex shape and a joint for joining each key are integrally formed.

JP 2000-133083 A JP 2000-207987 A

  However, in the key switch structure of Patent Document 1, since it is necessary to provide an elastic pressing portion on the bottom surface of each key, the key switch structure becomes complicated and the manufacturing cost of a keyboard having a plurality of key switches increases. There is.

  Further, the key switch structure of Patent Document 2 is simpler than the key switch structure of Patent Document 1, but as the thickness of the key switch structure is reduced, a sufficient key stroke cannot be secured. Therefore, the key switch structure of Patent Document 2 has a problem that the user cannot obtain a sufficient click feeling when the thickness is reduced beyond a predetermined limit.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a tactile sense presentation device having a thin and simple key switch structure that allows a user to obtain a sufficient click feeling.

  The tactile sense presentation device of the present invention has an elastic film that expands and contracts in the plane direction, a diaphragm fixed to the elastic film in a state where bending stress is generated, and a plurality of touch detection units that detect a touch operation. And a drive circuit that applies a drive signal to the stretchable film when at least one of the plurality of touch detection units detects a touch operation. Furthermore, in the tactile sense presentation device of the present invention, the thickness of the first region that overlaps the touch detection unit when the diaphragm is viewed from the front is the second region that does not overlap the touch detection unit when the diaphragm is viewed from the front. It is characterized by being thinner than the thickness.

  In this configuration, when the user presses the touch detection unit by a touch operation, the touch detection unit that overlaps the first region when the diaphragm is viewed from the front is pushed into the diaphragm side. Thereby, the tactile sense presentation device of the present invention can secure a keystroke.

  Furthermore, in this configuration, when the user performs a touch operation, the touch detection unit detects that the user has touched the key. Thereby, a drive signal is applied to the stretchable film by the drive circuit, and the stretchable film expands and contracts. Since bending stress is generated in the diaphragm, the diaphragm vibrates efficiently with respect to the expansion and contraction of the stretchable film.

  Therefore, in this configuration, even when the key switch structure is thinned, the user feels a sufficient click feeling due to the key stroke caused by the touch detection unit being pushed into the diaphragm side and the vibration of the diaphragm caused by the expansion and contraction of the elastic film. Can be obtained. In addition, since it is not necessary to provide an elastic pressing portion on the bottom surface portion of each touch detection portion, the key switch structure of this configuration is simple.

  Therefore, the present invention can provide a tactile sense presentation device having a thin and simple key switch structure that allows the user to obtain a sufficient click feeling.

  In addition, it is preferable that an opening or a recess is provided in the first region of the diaphragm.

  Since only an opening or a recess is provided in the first region overlapping with each touch detection unit, the key switch structure of this configuration is simple.

  Moreover, since the repulsive force in the both ends of the longitudinal direction of a diaphragm is stronger than the repulsive force in the center part of the longitudinal direction of a diaphragm, it is preferable that this invention is equipped with the following structure.

  That is, the diaphragm is a flat plate that is rectangular in a plan view, and has both ends in the longitudinal direction of the diaphragm that are not fixed to the stretchable film, and a center portion that is located on the inner side of both ends. And the area of the 1st field in both ends is wider than the area of the 1st field in the central part.

  Thereby, this invention can equalize the repulsive force in the both ends of the longitudinal direction of a diaphragm, and the repulsive force in a center part.

  In addition, the aspect which generate | occur | produces a bending stress may be sufficient as a diaphragm being fixed to the elastic film in the state curved in the direction orthogonal to the main surface of an elastic film.

  The tactile sense presentation device of the present invention includes a flat exciter film having a stretchable film attached to at least one main surface, and the vibration plate generates bending stress when the exciter film is attached to the vibration plate. The aspect fixed to the elastic film in the state to do may be sufficient.

  In this configuration, when the user performs a touch operation, a drive signal is applied to the stretchable film, and the stretchable film expands and contracts. When the stretch film stretches, the exciter film stretches. The diaphragm vibrates in a direction orthogonal to the main surface by expansion and contraction of the exciter film.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a tactile sense presentation device having a thin and simple key switch structure that allows a user to obtain a sufficient click feeling.

1 is an external perspective view of a tactile presentation device 101 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the tactile sense presentation apparatus 101 shown in FIG. It is a rear view of the tactile sense presentation device 101 shown in FIG. It is a side view of the tactile sense presentation device 101 shown in FIG. It is a partial expanded side view of the tactile sense presentation apparatus 101 shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the SS line | wire shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing to which one of the some touch sensors 80 shown in FIG. 6 was expanded. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the tactile sense presentation apparatus 101 shown in FIG. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the tactile sense presentation apparatus 101 shown in FIG. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the tactile sense presentation apparatus 101 shown in FIG. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the tactile sense presentation apparatus 101 shown in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the touch sensor 80, the touch panel 50, and the diaphragm 40 immediately before the user presses the touch sensor 80 by a touch operation of a finger F. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the touch sensor 80, the touch panel 50, and the diaphragm 40 when the user presses the touch sensor 80 by a touch operation of a finger F. FIG. It is a side view of the tactile sense presentation device 201 concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. In the tactile sense presentation device according to the third embodiment of the present invention, it is a cross-sectional view of the touch sensor 80, the touch panel 50, and the diaphragm 340 immediately before the user presses the touch sensor 80 by the touch operation of the finger F. In the tactile sense presentation device according to the third embodiment of the present invention, it is a cross-sectional view of the touch sensor 80, the touch panel 50, and the diaphragm 340 when the user presses the touch sensor 80 by a touch operation of a finger F. FIG.

  A tactile sense presentation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a tactile presentation device 101 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tactile sense presentation device 101 shown in FIG. 3 is a rear view of the haptic presentation device 101 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the haptic presentation device 101 shown in FIG.

  The tactile presentation device 101 includes the stretchable film 20, the diaphragm 40, and the touch panel 50. The tactile sense presentation device 101 is a so-called keyboard.

  The flat touch panel 50 is provided with a plurality of touch sensors 80 at positions corresponding to key arrangements such as the TAB key T, the CAPS LOCK key C, the SHIFT key S, and the ENTER key E. The touch panel 50 is attached to one main surface (front surface) of the flat diaphragm 40. The touch panel 50 is made of, for example, acrylic resin PMMA.

  Here, the touch sensor 80 corresponds to the touch detection unit of the present invention. The touch sensor 80 may be of any type as long as it has a function of detecting a user's touch operation, and various types such as a membrane type, a capacitance type, and a stretchable film type can be used.

  The diaphragm 40 is made of a flat metal plate. The diaphragm 40 has a rectangular shape in plan view. The diaphragm 40 has both ends in the short direction fixed to the stretchable film 20 on the other main surface (back surface).

  The diaphragm 40 has both ends in the longitudinal direction of the diaphragm 40 that is not fixed to the stretchable film 20, and a central portion that is located inside the both ends. Both ends of the diaphragm 40 in the longitudinal direction are 11 keys positioned at both ends in the longitudinal direction such as the TAB key T, the CAPS LOCK key C, the SHIFT key S, and the ENTER key E when the diaphragm 40 is viewed from the front. overlapping. Therefore, the area of the first region at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the diaphragm 40 is wider than the area of the first region at the center in the longitudinal direction of the diaphragm 40.

  FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged side view of the tactile sense presentation device 101 shown in FIG. The stretchable film 20 includes a base film 200 having a rectangular shape in plan view, and electrodes 211A and 211B formed on both opposing main surfaces of the base film 200.

  The base film 200 is a piezoelectric resin, and for example, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is used. PVDF is preferable among piezoelectric resins because of its relatively large piezoelectricity.

  The base film 200 can also be formed of a chiral polymer. In particular, when the chiral polymer is polylactic acid (PLA), it is possible to realize a tactile sensation presentation device having a high translucency when viewed from the front by using a material having translucency with other components. it can. More preferably, the polylactic acid is L-type polylactic acid (PLLA).

  When the base film 200 is made of PLLA, as shown in FIG. 3, the outer periphery is cut so that each outer periphery is approximately 45 °, thereby forming a rectangular shape and having piezoelectricity. Make it.

  The electrode 211 </ b> A and the electrode 211 </ b> B are formed on substantially the entire main surfaces of the base film 200. The electrode 211A and the electrode 211B are preferably composed mainly of indium tin oxide (ITO), zinc oxide (ZnO), and polythiophene in the case of usage that requires translucency.

  In addition, it is also possible to use a silver nanowire electrode for the electrode 211A and the electrode 211B, and it is preferable to use an aluminum vapor-deposited electrode as long as the light transmission property may be low.

  The electrode 211A and the electrode 211B are connected to a drive circuit 81 (described later) via a lead wiring conductor (not shown), and a drive signal is applied to the electrode 211A and the electrode 211B via the wiring conductor. ing. The electrode 211 </ b> A disposed on the vibration plate 40 side is attached to the vibration plate 40 through the adhesive layer 60. Similarly, the electrode 211B disposed on the vibration plate 40 side is also attached to the vibration plate 40 via an adhesive layer (not shown).

  6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line S-S shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of one of the plurality of touch sensors 80 shown in FIG.

  The diaphragm 40 has a first region that overlaps the plurality of touch sensors 80 and a second region that does not overlap the plurality of touch sensors 80 when the diaphragm 40 is viewed from the front. A plurality of openings 85 are provided in the first region of the diaphragm 40. That is, the thickness of the first region is thinner than the thickness of the second region. The shape of each opening 85 when the diaphragm 40 is viewed from the front is a circular shape.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the tactile sense presentation device 101 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the drive circuit 81 is provided in the tactile sense presentation device 101 and is connected to a plurality of touch sensors 80.

  Therefore, when the user touches at least one of the plurality of touch sensors 80 provided on the touch panel 50, the drive circuit 81 applies drive signals to the electrodes 211A and 211B of the stretchable film 20. Thereby, the elastic film 20 expands and contracts.

  Returning to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the diaphragm 40 has a shape that curves and projects to the opposite side (front side of the diaphragm 40) with respect to the side where the stretchable film 20 exists (back side of the diaphragm 40). Thus, it is fixed to the stretchable film 20.

  With this configuration, a hollow region 100 is formed between the diaphragm 40 and the stretchable film 20. The side where the diaphragm 40 is located is the front side of the tactile presentation device 101, and the side where the stretchable film 20 is located is the back side of the tactile sense presentation device 101.

  However, in the present embodiment, the curved state of the diaphragm 40 is exaggerated for the sake of explanation. In practice, the main surface of the diaphragm 40 and the main surface of the stretchable film 20 are more nearly parallel. The hollow region 100 is desirably as small as possible.

  Thus, since the diaphragm 40 is fixed to the stretchable film 20 with the flat plate surface curved, it is fixed to the stretchable film 20 in a state where bending stress is applied as indicated by the white arrow F901 in FIG. .

  In addition, as shown by the white arrow S901 in FIG. 4, the stretchable film 20 is in a state where a tensile force is applied in the longitudinal direction of the main surface of the stretchable film 20.

  9 to 11 are operation explanatory views of the tactile sense presentation device 101. FIG. 9 shows a state at the timing when the stretchable film 20 is shrunk by the drive signal. FIG. 10 shows a state in which no drive signal is applied or the amplitude of the drive signal is zero. FIG. 11 shows a state at a timing when the stretchable film 20 is stretched by the drive signal.

  When the drive circuit 81 applies a drive signal to the stretchable film 20 and applies an electric field in the first direction of the stretchable film 20, the stretchable film 20 contracts along the direction indicated by the arrow S911 in FIG. The stretchable film 20 is attached to both fixed ends of the diaphragm 40.

  Therefore, the diaphragm 40 is pulled in the central direction from a location (an end in the short direction) fixed to the stretchable film 20 as the stretchable film 20 contracts. Thereby, the diaphragm 40 is curved so as to protrude further forward as indicated by an arrow F911 in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the drive circuit 81 applies a drive signal to the stretchable film 20 and applies an electric field in the second direction opposite to the first direction, the stretchable film 20 moves along the direction indicated by the arrow S912 in FIG. Stretch. The stretchable film 20 is attached to both fixed ends of the diaphragm 40.

  Therefore, the diaphragm 40 is pulled from the center direction to the portion (end portion in the short direction) fixed to the stretchable film 20 as the stretchable film 20 is stretched. Thereby, the diaphragm 40 is in a curved state in which the forward protrusion amount is reduced as indicated by an arrow F912 in FIG.

  Therefore, the diaphragm 40 transitions to the state of FIG. 9 or the state of FIG. 11 based on the state of FIG. 10 according to the amplitude of the drive signal, and the front direction and the back direction (perpendicular to the main surface of the diaphragm 40). Oscillate along the direction of Thereby, the vibration according to the drive signal is transmitted to the touch panel 50 via the diaphragm 40 and transmitted to the user who touched the touch panel 50.

  Therefore, when the user touches at least one of the plurality of touch sensors 80 provided on the touch panel 50, the vibration is fed back, so that the user can feel that the key is “pressed”.

  Since the diaphragm 40 is given a steady bending stress in a non-operating state, the force applied to the diaphragm 40 when the stretchable film 20 is stretched is in the same direction as the bending stress. Therefore, the tactile sense presentation device 101 can vibrate the diaphragm 40 efficiently and can transmit a strong vibration to some extent even when the stretchable film is used. In addition, the tactile sense presentation device 101 can be made thinner than vibration caused by a motor or the like.

  In addition, it is desirable to fill the hollow region 100 with a soft resin such as silicone gel to suppress the sound generated when the diaphragm 40 vibrates.

  FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the touch sensor 80, the touch panel 50, and the diaphragm 40 immediately before the user presses the touch sensor 80 by a finger F touch operation. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the touch sensor 80, the touch panel 50, and the diaphragm 40 when the user presses the touch sensor 80 by the touch operation of the finger F.

  In the above configuration, when the user presses the touch sensor 80 by a touch operation, the touch sensor 80 is pushed into the opening 85. Thereby, the tactile sense presentation device 101 can secure a keystroke.

  Further, in this configuration, when the user performs a touch operation, the touch sensor 80 detects that the user has touched the key. Thereby, a drive signal is applied to the stretchable film 20 by the drive circuit 81, and the stretchable film 20 expands and contracts. Since bending stress is generated in the diaphragm 40, the diaphragm 40 vibrates efficiently with respect to the expansion and contraction of the stretchable film 20.

  Therefore, in this configuration, even when the key switch structure is thinned, the user can click sufficiently by the key stroke caused by the touch sensor 80 being pushed into the opening 85 and the vibration of the diaphragm 40 caused by the expansion / contraction of the elastic film 20. A feeling can be obtained. Moreover, since it is not necessary to provide an elastic pressing part like patent document 1 in the bottom face part of each touch sensor 80, the key switch structure of this structure is simple.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the tactile sense presentation device 101 having a thin and simple key switch structure that allows the user to obtain a sufficient click feeling.

  Further, as described above, the area of the first region at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the diaphragm 40 is larger than the area of the first region at the center in the longitudinal direction of the diaphragm 40.

  Therefore, the tactile sense presentation device 101 can equalize the repulsive force at both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the diaphragm 40 and the repulsive force at the central portion.

  Note that the area of the first region can be designed in a timely manner. The magnitude of vibration (in-plane variation) varies depending on the shape of the film and how it is applied. The area of the first region may be designed in a timely manner according to the in-plane variation.

  Further, for example, a thing that makes the vibration of a key pressed relatively frequently stronger than other keys may be used. The click feeling can be adjusted only by changing the area of the first region without adjusting the voltage applied to the stretchable film for each key.

  Next, the tactile sense presentation device 201 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 14 is a side view of the tactile presentation device 201 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The tactile sense presentation device 201 of the present embodiment is different from the tactile sense presentation device 101 in that a flat exciter film 230 having a stretchable film 220 attached to at least one main surface and a stretchable film 220 having a smaller area than the stretchable film 20. It is a point provided with. Since the other points are the same, the description is omitted.

  In the tactile sense presentation device 201, the diaphragm 40 is fixed to the stretchable film 220 in a state where bending stress is generated by attaching the exciter film 230 to the diaphragm 40.

  Therefore, in the tactile sense presentation device 201, when the user performs a touch operation, a drive signal is applied to the stretchable film 220, and the stretchable film 220 expands and contracts. When the stretchable film 220 is stretched, the exciter film 230 is stretched.

  The diaphragm 40 vibrates in a direction orthogonal to the main surface due to expansion and contraction of the exciter film 230. Since the bending stress is generated in the diaphragm 40, the diaphragm 40 can be vibrated efficiently with respect to the expansion and contraction of the stretchable film 220. Therefore, the tactile sense presentation device 201 according to the present embodiment can transmit strong vibration to some extent even when the stretchable film 220 is used.

  Therefore, the haptic presentation device 201 of the present embodiment has the same effects as the haptic presentation device 101.

  Next, a tactile presentation device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the touch sensor 80, the touch panel 50, and the diaphragm 340 immediately before the user presses the touch sensor 80 by the touch operation of the finger F in the tactile sense presentation device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. is there. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the touch sensor 80, the touch panel 50, and the diaphragm 340 when the user presses the touch sensor 80 by the touch operation of the finger F in the tactile sense presentation device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. is there.

  The difference between the tactile presentation device of the present embodiment and the tactile presentation device 101 is that a plurality of recesses 385 are provided in the first region of the diaphragm 40. Each concave portion 385 has a circular shape when the diaphragm 40 is viewed from the front. Since the other points are the same, the description is omitted.

  Therefore, also in the tactile sense presentation device of the present embodiment, the thickness of the first region is thinner than the thickness of the second region.

  In this configuration, when the user presses the touch sensor 80 by a touch operation, the touch sensor 80 is pushed into the concave portion 385 side. Thereby, the tactile sense presentation device of this embodiment can secure a keystroke.

  Therefore, the haptic presentation device of the present embodiment has the same effects as the haptic presentation device 101.

  In addition, in each said embodiment, although the shape of the opening part 85 and the recessed part 385 is circular shape, it is not restricted to this. In implementation, the shape of the opening 85 and the recess 385 may be other shapes (for example, a quadrangle).

  The first region may be a space, or may be filled with a soft material (such as silicon resin or urethane resin) that does not hinder key operation. In the case of a space, a sufficient stroke can be obtained, and in the case of filling with a soft material, the keypad can be prevented from peping (denting) when the keyboard is not used.

  In each of the above embodiments, the stretchable film may be composed of, for example, a piezoelectric film, an electrostrictive film, an electret film, a piezoelectric ceramic, a composite film in which piezoelectric particles are dispersed in a polymer, or an electroactive polymer film. it can.

  Here, the electroactive polymer film is a film that generates stress by electrical driving, or a film that deforms and generates displacement by electrical driving. Specifically, there are an electrostrictive film, a composite material (a material obtained by resin-molding piezoelectric ceramics), an electrically driven elastomer, or a liquid crystal elastomer.

  Finally, the description of each of the embodiments should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above embodiments but by the claims. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims.

F ... finger 20 ... stretchable film 40 ... diaphragm 50 ... touch panel 60 ... adhesive layer 80 ... touch sensor 81 ... drive circuit 85 ... opening 100 ... hollow region 101 ... tactile sense presentation device 200 ... base film 201 ... tactile sense presentation device 211A, 211B ... Electrode 220 ... Stretch film 230 ... Exciter film 385 ... Recess

Claims (5)

A stretchable film that stretches in the surface direction;
A diaphragm fixed to the stretchable film in a state where bending stress is generated;
A touch panel having a plurality of touch detection units for detecting a touch operation and attached to the diaphragm;
A drive circuit that applies a drive signal to the stretchable film when at least one of the plurality of touch detection units detects a touch operation;
The thickness of the first region that overlaps with the touch detection unit when the diaphragm is viewed from the front is smaller than the thickness of the second region that does not overlap with the touch detection unit when the diaphragm is viewed from the front. A tactile sense presentation device.   The tactile sense presentation device according to claim 1, wherein an opening or a recess is provided in the first region of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a rectangular flat plate in plan view,
The diaphragm has both ends in the longitudinal direction of the diaphragm that are not fixed to the stretchable film, and a central portion located inside the both ends,
3. The tactile sense presentation device according to claim 1, wherein an area of the first region at the both end portions is larger than an area of the first region at the central portion. A flat exciter film having the stretchable film mounted on at least one main surface,
4. The tactile presentation according to claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is fixed to the stretchable film in a state where bending stress is generated by being affixed to the exciter film. 5. apparatus.   5. The tactile sensation according to claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is fixed to the stretchable film while being curved in a direction orthogonal to a main surface of the stretchable film. Presentation device.

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